Law360 Profiles Akin’s Family Friendly Benefits

Law360, in its article “How Akin Encouraged Staff To Use Expanded Family Benefits,” profiled the firm’s suite of family support policies two years after the firm expanded its parental leave and fertility benefits in 2021.

In an interview for the article, Akin chief human resources officer Meg Meserole described the benefit expansion as a success due to support and advocacy from firm leadership, including the firm’s chairperson Kim Koopersmith.

Meg said that the average number of weeks of parental leave taken by non-birth parents in the firm has increased from 10 weeks to almost the full 12 weeks over the last two years, and that there is an atmosphere in which everyone is working to ensure there are opportunities for that leave to be taken.

Assessing the success of the program, Meg noted positive feedback from people who have accessed the benefits, including people who said they might not have been able to start a family without the help of the benefits offered.

"It is very gratifying as an HR leader to know that the benefits we have in place are making that real difference in people's lives," said Meg. "It is truly gratifying personally and professionally."